Welcome to the…
Professional Standards & Competencies Resource Library
The Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators outline the essential knowledge, skills, and practices that are foundational to high-quality early childhood education. These standards define what early childhood educators should know and be able to do in order to support the learning and development of young children from birth through age 8. They serve as a guiding framework for professional development, practice, and evaluation within the field of early childhood education.
Understanding and implementing these standards is crucial for educators as they help ensure the delivery of equitable, inclusive, and high-quality education that promotes the well-being and success of all children. By adhering to these standards, educators also contribute to the profession's commitment to continuous improvement and accountability.
Please note that while the collection of resources has been organized and tagged according to the Professional Standards and Competencies, only the most applicable competencies have been prioritized for searching and tagging purposes.
For NAEYC resources in the library, you can find policies related to reproducing, distributing, or otherwise using content here. For all other resources, please follow appropriate practices for using/citing sources.
Directions for Using the Professional Standards and Competencies Resource Library
Check out the resource library tutorial here!
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The PS&Cs Resource Library allows you to peruse ALL of the many resources available (by default) or you can utilize the provided filter and narrow down your search to target specific resources.
Check out the resource library tutorial for more info.
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By using the filtering categories, you are able to narrow your search to particular professional standards, one or more of the 22 key competencies, various ECE topics, a variety of age ranges, specific types of resources such as articles or videos or even find resources available in languages other than English.
The robust filters even allow you to choose multiple choices across categories or within the same category to further narrow your search!
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Once you have opened the various filter categories provided in the filter tool, you will notice that “all” is highlighted and checked in each category by default. This means the filter tool will not filter out any of those options within that category. If you wish to narrow your search, you simply click on one or more of the other options within the various filtering categories. Clicking will check that option. Checked options will be utilized for your search!
To remove an option, simply click it again to remove the check from the checkbox.
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The search feature is similar to any other search engine on a website. It can be used for a specific key word or phrase. Although the search may be helpful and is provided, the more robust filter tool may ultimately be more helpful in focusing and narrowing your search for resources.
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Naturally, broken links will occur. Sometimes the resource has been moved to a new web address and other times it has been temporarily or permanently removed. We welcome you to report any broken links you find here. We will do our best to replace the link when possible or remove the resource if it is no longer available.
**As of Feb. 2025, certain webpages and resources, particularly from agencies/organizations/projects that receive federal funds, have been at least temporarily removed in order to comply with federal mandates related to the Trump Administration’s Executive Orders. We will continue to monitor these resource links and update them if and when new links are available.
Start Your Search--Resource Library
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Start Your Search--Resource Library *
Sort quickly through the hundreds of available resources by using the filter tool on the left to populate the specific resources you need!
Creating a Flexible Learning Environment-A Community Playthings Case Study: CRT's Heritage Child Development Center, Hartford, CT
https://www.communityplaythings.com/resources/videos/case-study-crt-heritage
This resource explores how the Heritage Child Development Center utilizes modular "Roomscapes" furniture to create adaptable environments for infants and toddlers. It demonstrates practical strategies for balancing rapid developmental needs with strict licensing requirements for visibility and furniture stability, offering a model for maintaining a dynamic yet safe early learning space.
Organization/Author: Community Playthings
Type of Resource: Video
Publication Date: unknown
Watch and Wonder: The Life Cycle of a Monarch Butterfly Video
This resource highlights the captivating power of nature in the classroom through the life cycle of monarch butterflies. By observing the metamorphosis from egg to butterfly, students and families engage in a shared educational experience that fosters deep curiosity and strengthens the home-school connection.
Organization/Author: Community Playthings
Type of Resource: Video
Publication Date: unknown
The Important Role of the Teacher in Block Play: Supporting Deeper Engagement and Learning in the Block Area Video
https://www.communityplaythings.com/resources/videos/the-important-role-of-the-teacher-in-block-play
What is the role of the adult in block play? Watch and listen as experienced educators from Bank Street, City & Country School, and Caltech discuss the important role of the teacher in supporting, scaffolding, and guiding block play.
Organization/Author: Community Playthings
Type of Resource: Video
Publication Date: unknown
Foundations of Learning: Building STEM Skills Video
https://www.communityplaythings.com/resources/videos/foundations-of-learning-building-stem-skills
In this 3-minute video, Hal Melnick, Susan Wood, and Yvonne Smith explain why every school that is serious about STEM education needs to have a strong block play component in their curriculum.
Organization/Author: Community Playthings
Type of Resource: Video
Publication Date: unknown
How to Build Autonomy in Early Childhood Classrooms
How to Build Autonomy in Early Childhood Classrooms
This video explores how establishing predictable routines and clear roles in preschool helps even the youngest students grow in their ability to make decisions, take on responsibilities, and accomplish tasks independently.
Organization/Author: Amanda Armstrong, Edutopia
Type of Resource: Video
Publication Date: 2023
Meaningful Makeover
Research shows that small changes to a classroom can make a big impact on a child’s learning. Need some ideas to create a more engaging early learning environment? Meaningful Makeover is a web series created and produced by Gail Joseph, PhD, founding director of Cultivate Learning at the University of Washington. This series for educators and early learning providers offers tips, visuals, and inexpensive solutions that transform environments. It promotes learning opportunities, greater accessibility, and engagement. Each episode highlights simple improvements that are easy to make. Watch our educational environment experts as they team up with providers to show the secrets and science behind the most impactful early learning spaces.
Organization/Author: Gail Joseph, Cultivate Learning, University of Washington
Type of Resource: Video and Resources
Publication Date: 2024
UDL at a Glance
This brief video shows how UDL can guide the design of instructional goals, assessments, methods, and materials that can be customized and adjusted to meet individual needs.
Organization/Author: CAST
Type of Resource: Video
Publication Date: 2010
UDL: Principles and Practice
National Center on UDL Director David Rose explains how UDL helps meet the most pressing issues facing educators today. Drawing on brain research and the learning sciences, he describes UDL principles and what they mean for classroom practice.
Organization/Author: National Center on UDL
Type of Resource: Video
Publication Date: 2010
Building Inclusive Child Care
This 12-minute video provides an overview of UDL, then shows how UDL is incorporated in the infant/toddler, preschool, and kindergarten classrooms at the Northampton Community College lab school.
Organization/Author: Northampton Community College Lab School
Type of Resource: Video
Publication Date: 2019
The Importance of Self-Care for Early Care and Education Professionals
The Importance of Self-Care for Early Care and Education Professionals
A video with discussion questions to help guide educators to identify self-care strategies and make action plans to stay physically and mentally healthy.
Organization/Author: Center for Early Childhood Education at Eastern Connecticut University
Type of Resource: Video with discussion guide
Publication Date: Unknown
Buzzwords Explained: Reflective Practice
Buzzwords Explained: Reflective Practice
This set of videos and text break down the what, why, and how of reflective practice.
Organization/Author: Mike Sherman, Zero to Three
Type of Resource: Article & Videos
Publication Date: 2024
Video: Four Boys Talk About a Garbage Truck
Video: Four Boys Talk About a Garbage Truck
During choice time, four boys watch a video of a recent visit by sanitation workers and talk about their experience. Produced by Results Matter, Colorado Department of Education.
Organization/Author: Results Matter, Colorado Department of Education
Type of Resource: Video
Publication Date: 2021
Inclusion in STEM-STEM starts Now Documentary
Children with disabilities and from underserved communities are often denied STEM learning opportunities. In this 13-minute documentary, practitioners, families of children with disabilities, and people with disabilities discuss why STEM is important and how children with disabilities can engage and excel in it.
Organization/Author: STEMIE Innovation for Inclusion in Early Education
Type of Resource: Video
Publication Date: 2020
Toddler Observation Videos
This is a set of four videos of small groups of toddler-aged children in a classroom setting. These videos provide multiple opportunities to practice observation skills.
Organization/Author: hatfieldmomof3, YouTube
Type of Resource: Videos
Publication Date: 2011
The World of Children: Developing Child Observation Skills
The World of Children: Developing Child Observation Skills
A 35 minute video which focuses on how to develop observation skills.
Organization/Author: Alison Drake & Diane Kubetz, College of DuPage
Type of Resource: Video
Publication Date: 2023
Bilingualism and Assessment in Early Childhood Special Education
Bilingualism and Assessment in Early Childhood Special Education
In this vlog, Greg Cheatham (University of Kansas) discusses bilingualism and assessment and offers tips on working with families who have home languages other than English.
Organization/Author: Military Families Learning Network Family Development Early Intervention Team
Type of Resource: Video
Publication Date: 2017
Using Child Assessment Data to Achieve Positive Outcomes
Using Child Assessment Data to Achieve Positive Outcomes
Administrators and teachers illustrate how they use authentic child assessment data to 1) inform classroom level instruction, 2) support teachers, and 3) meet the needs of individual children and their families.
Organization/Author: Results Matter Video Library, Colorado Department of Education
Type of Resource: Video
Publication Date: Unknown
Let’s Dig Deep: Partnerships Between Teachers and Parents/Families 4 Part Video Series
Let’s Dig Deep: Partnerships Between Teachers and Parents/Families 4 Part Video Series
This video collection includes four videos (under 5 minutes, each) created by the Devereux Center for Resilient Children. All videos explore partnerships between teachers and families.
Organization/Author: Devereux Center for Resilient Children
Type of Resource: Videos
Publication Date: 2023
Best Practices in Family & Community Engagement Video Series- Head Start Early Childhood Learning & Knowledge Center (ECLKC)
The Best Practices in Family and Community Engagement Video Series is designed to support each program's efforts toward systemic and integrated engagement. Rooted in the Office of Head Start (OHS) Parent, Family, and Community Engagement (PFCE) Framework, the videos highlight examples of innovative approaches to engagement that foster strong relationships with families and lead to positive outcomes for children and families.
Organization/Author: Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC)
Type of Resource: Video Series
Publication Date: Last Updated 2023
Using Text Messaging to Strengthen Family-School Relationships
Using Text Messaging to Strengthen Family-School Relationships
An 8 minute video that explores the pros and cons of using a text messaging system for family communication.
Organization/Author: Results Matter Video Library, Colorado Department of Education
Type of Resource: Video
Publication Date: Unknown
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